Arimidex every other day

Common Questions and Answers about Arimidex every other day

arimidex

Will a half dose or everyotherday dose be just as effective for me? If anyone knows where I can get this answered, please let me know. I would like to get some information before I speak with my onc., I guess I need some ammunition.

The purpose of this post is for other breast cancer survivors on Arimidex - looking for experiences with joint pain. I had chemotherapy and radiation therapy in 2006 for a stage 2 invasive lobular carcinoma. I was on Tamoxifen from mid-2006 until late 2008 - when I had an oophorectomy (prophylactic). I had tolerated the Tamoxifen very well for two years - few side effects. I was switched to Arimidex in late 2008 and have been on it since. I am a pretty healthy (other than the BC) - 52 year old.

I started lupron 2 weeks ago, am still bleeding everyday. Onc. said to go ahead anyway and start the arimidex, which I did yesterday. Am I getting benefit of Arimidex if still bleeding? My next appt with oncologist is in 2 weeks -- I'm a bit frustrated because very busy practice and I feel I am getting short answers (just take the arimidex) when I want more understanding. I realize this my comm. problem with onc which I have to handle but am interested in your thoughts. Thanks!

SHE HAS TAKEN 12 TAXOL AND HERCEPTIN CHEMOS EVERY WEEK FOR 12 WEEKS AND IS NOW DOING 35 RADIATION TREATMENTS WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 6 MORE CHEMOS OF AC AND SOMETHING ELSE. SHE IS ALSO STARTING ARIMIDEXEVERYDAY. MY QUESTION WAS WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIMIDEX AND TAMOXIFEN AND IS THERE ANY BENEFIT OF ONE AGAINST THE OTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN PAST THIS IS A GREAT WEBSITE AND IS SO MUCH COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CANCER.

I'm eating a diet under 1000 calories most days and small portions on the other days. I exercise 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day and although I am losing weight it is extremely slowly. I'm very upset about the weight gain and the increase in cholesterol, because prior to taking arimidex, I was slim and had very good cholesterol numbers. What can I do to lose the weight quicker and keep it off.

She has metastatic with bone issues (sorry I don't know if it's cancer), spinal tumors (4 of them), spleen and liver tumors and something of a spot near the lung but they're not 'concerned'. She has been on arimidex and zometa for a year and they've been great. She has had ZERO side effects and is so happy with her treatment.

I realized today that most of us know very little about how ovca is handled in other countries. I would like those of you that live outside the US to tell us a little about how things are handled where you live. I know for instance that in England and some other places they don't do chemo based solely on a rising CA125. That is about my extent of knowledge of foreign countries and ovca. That is really pitiful.

I have stage one invasive lobular carcinoma in one breat, well-differeentiated tubular aadeeno carcinoma in the other. I've chose bi-lateral mastectomy, no reconstruction. If nodes are positive I'll face radiation, chemotherapy, etc. But I do not want to take Tamoxifen. I've read so many horrible experiences about it, etc. I am 55, almost menopausal, (tiny amounts for few days, maybe twice a year for 2 years now, it's ridiculous & I want to be fully in menopause.

I'm getting handfuls of hair everyday in the bathtub drain. I am concerned that the hair loss is irreversible or may not grow back until I am finished with Arimidex. What I have read is the jury is still out if it's permanent or not, and I haven't read anything about going from one AI to another. I learned that Aromasin and Arimidex are quite different. Aromasin permanently binds to the Aromatase and Arimidex is temporary. I'll have to do more research about what that means chemically.

My chiropractor suggested having my estrogen blood levels tested, and trying an experiment. Take Aromasin everyotherday for a few months, and see if it lowers my blood estrogen level enough. My blood estrogen level (estradiol) is now a *negative* 20! No nausea, just some neuropathy, swelling and stiffness, mostly in the morning. I can handle this.
I plan on complaining about the side effects for the rest of my long, healthy life!

I take two Advil everyday (some people cannot) and also take glucosamine/chondroitin. I try to walk every day. I'm sure some of it is age related (61) but it just seemed to come on so suddenly - one day I was young and not achey and the next I was old and achey!!! Good luck.

I would like to do the radiation and then start on Arimidex. I would start on the chemo in April when the weather improves and I could actually be outside part of the day. I already know I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. I just don't know how I mentally do this. My emotional stores are about at zero due to the slow, lingering deaths of both my parents. I was their primary caretaker and had to learn to manage their large farm when they failed mentally.

headed much of the time, and have trouble learning new things at work, or making decisions in my everyday life. I am currently off the Arimidex because of progressive joint pain, and waiting to decide with the doctor where to proceed with that. I thought the internal vibrations had let up since being off the Arimidex, but they are now back in force after 5 weeks off the drug.
I am wondering if it is environmental, connected with something in my house?

It may indicate presence of a tumor, a fracture, even infection. The results are correlated with what is happening with the patient (clinical evaluation) and other testing (such as the x-ray). The oncologist will be able to help to clarify the results in context for you.

The only way I found to get relief from all of the pain and inflammation was to stop taking it. I even cut down to one everyotherday, but yet it got so bad that I couldn't get up out of a chair. Or a car. The pain was just awful. I was even on prescription-strength anti-inflammatories.
Sorry.
The side effects are almost all gone now. It has been almost three months since I stopped. I'm considering taking it once a week. When I get up my courage, I'll let you know.

The important thing is that while she is on such a specific protocol for cancer treatment, any substance added or removed from her day to day intake, including nicotine, could have an impact on the outcome of her treatment.
Please encourage her to coordinate with her physician, ok?

I was searching the web for some explanations for my chronic pain and came across you posting. I finished chemo (4 rounds of adrimyacin & 4 rounds of taxol every other week) and my neulatsa shots in February. Here it is May and I am still in a great deal of pain. The pain seems to be in my entire leg from the hip down and in my shoulders. I also have neuropathy in my hands and feet.
My oncologist keeps telling me the systems will go away.

I followed your other post and noted that you got a few responses from other community members. I hope these were of some help.
I also noted that you have not posted in the BC Expert Forum; if you want to do that and need additional help, let us know.

Dx of stage IV BC with mets to bone in June,2004. Arimidex controlled progression for 27 months, then changed to Faslodex. Six months later, Jan.07,shortness of breath and fatigue caused Dr. to do a CT scan, which showed liver and lung involvement. CA27/29 was up to 7200. After 8 weeks of Vinrolebine chemo, it was up to 9500. Switched to Taxotere+Carboplatin every three weeks. CA27/29 levels steadily dropped to the current 142..about what it was in 2004.

I had been on Arimidex and had an oopherectomy for 1mm of grade 3 breast cancer. Two years ago I had a dxa scan and it showed a t score of -2.4 which was borderline for osteoporosis. I told my gynaecologist all this and told her about the pain I had and how I could hardly walk because of bone pain, and she just told me to eat cheese, and that when i stop the arimidex I will be clear of pain.
In the end she took me off the arimidex because I was suffering so much.

I have been given every bit of encouragement by my surgeon, oncologist and radiologist that I will be fine. I cannot seem to move past the fear of a late and distant recurrence. How do you get over that? I am starting radiation soon and then Arimidex for 5 years. I can deal with all the treatment but for some reason the fear has not left me yet. When does the fear become managemable?

No I never took chemo only radiation like you and Tomaxcin
I was seeing my radiologist and oncologist every three months for three years
now it is every six months.
The only other side effect I got from Tomaxcin is crapping of the legs.
severe and my doctor said to drink Tonic Water because it has Quinine in it. It really helps. I thought it was Potassium but it was not.

Get your heart rate up and keep it there for at least 30 minutes a day. Better to go for an hour long walk everyday. Try this for a month and see what happens. Also, you might try a glass or two of red wine each day (but no more than that). If overweight, try losing 10-15% of your body weight and see if things improve.
If none of this works, in my opinion, the only thing you can do is find a doctor that is familiar with men's hormones (typically NOT what you'd think, an endocrinologist.

So he told me that we've tried every route that we can and if this arimidex doesn't work then my ovaries need to come out and that's that. he said that after being on the arimidex for 2 months we'll be able to tell if it's helping or not. it's been a month and nothing has changed, things actually have gotten a little worse. So that's why I said that surgery is the only option at this point.

With a family history of breast cancer, I opted for bilateral mastectomies with SN Biop. which were negative, and other breast was without disease. The tumor is ER pos, Pr neg. Her2/neu negative and was also evaluated by Oncotype DX. The recurrence score was 27 so I've completed 4 cycles of Taxotere and Cytoxan. I have been on Arimidex for 3 months. What might be my chances of a cure vs. metastasis? Should I consider Zometa and does it only help prevent bone metastasis or other mets as well?

This was a blow to me because I love tofu and made soy milk chai every morning. The other item I avoid is flax seed because it's high in lignans and the phytoestrogens are there as well. It's great for the heart but now I avoid that as well. I'm on Arimidex as a postmenopausal woman. I asked an online self proclaimed nutritionist who probably feared a law suit and gave no helpful information.

I have a feeling I need to be much more aware about the products that I use on a day to day basis. It amazes me though, that more isn't mentioned about this is the media. I think if women knew, it would really open our eyes. Maybe you could post some of the healthy alternatives you have knowledge of on this forum...I know we would all appreciate it.

Two seromas which had to be drained everyotherday for several weeks. The implant had to be removed 5 weeks after the mastectomy. 2 1/2 years later, I still have to have physical therapy for the unresolved pain. Sorry to post a sad response; I'm so glad to be alive to complain about the pain, though!
I'm on Aromasin now. Aches and pains are horrible. But I'm alive to complain...

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